Alfred Kantor (1923 - 2003) No. 58 January 2005 IN THIS ISSUE: Page Page Future Activities 2 Actualities 10 Activities at Beit Terezin 3 Received in our Archives 15 Our Education Center 5 Translations 17 Music at Beit Theresienstadt 7 Books and Publications 18 Second Generation 9 Membership Dues 22 2 FUTURE ACTIVITIES NOTE IN YOUR DIARY! 60 YEARS SINCE LIBERATION Beit Theresienstadt plans a number of events for the 60th anniversary of the end of WWII and liberation of the concentration camps: On January 15, at 11a.m., a meeting of the second generation. The sculptor Michael Deiml, himself of the second generation, who lives in Germany, will lecture on Remembering and Forgetting – Monuments of the Holocaust. Following a discussion about the commitment of the second generation to remembrance and commemoration. To strengthen the connection of former Dutch nationals of the first and later generations to Beit Theresienstadt, a further meeting will be held there on Wednesday, January 26, 2005. A video film about the Barneveld group will be shown, followed by a discussion on participation of the former Dutch Israelis in activities of Beit Terezin. Thanks to the courtesy of the Tel Aviv Dan hotel on Monday March 14, a festive event will take place on the occasion of the premiere of the film The Olympic Doll. The film was directed by Giora Gerzon and produced by Shirley Gerzon. It is based on Inge Auerbacher’s book Ich bin ein Stern (I am a star). The Gerzon’s and the author will attend. (See item on page 11) In April (the exact date will be announced later) a study day on the subject of the end of WWII, liberation and their aftermath will be held in Beit Terezin. The members of our association, personalities of public life, representatives of institutions, researchers and teachers will be invited. Holocaust Day, Thursday May 5, “Open day” at Beit Terezin for Holocaust survivors and their families; the motto is “60 years since liberation”. Oratorio Terezin: 3 concerts of the Oratorio will be held – on May 5, in the evening at the Tel Aviv Hehal Hatarbut, Friday, May 6, noon at the Jerusalem Theater and Saturday May 7, in the evening at the Jerusalem Auditorium. (See item on page 7). On May 8, afternoon, a meeting of young musicians from Germany and Israel will take place at Beit Theresienstadt. The program: a concert, meeting with Dr. Gottfried Wagner, Mr. Volker Ahmels and Frederike Haufe and conversation with members of the first generation of our association. Our annual meeting will be on May 28. In addition to the usual program – meeting friends and a lecture for the younger generations – a new exhibition will be opened and a plan for the new design of the permanent exhibition at our historical museum will be presented and discussed. We hope for many guests from Israel and abroad. A workshop for young German and Israeli musicians “History, Music and Remembrance” in July at Beit Theresienstadt. A joint team from Beit Berl, Beit Lohame Hagetaot and Beit Terezin is about to start planning the international meeting Women in the Holocaust, to be held – for the third time now – on September 19, 20, and 21. Those interested to present research papers at the symposium are invited to contact Beit Theresienstadt by mail, fax or e-mail. 3 For all these events invitations with all pertinent details will be sent out. ACTIVITIES AT BEIT TEREZIN VOLUNTEERS A meeting of appreciation for our volunteers – now already a tradition – took place on December 29, 2004, in the clubroom of kibbutz Givat Hayim-Ihud. This time the program dealt with reminiscences from the beginnings of Beit Theresienstadt, the founding of our association and its various activities. Posters with photographs of important events were displayed in the clubroom, like for example laying the foundation stone of the house, the early annual meetings, organized trips etc. Excerpts from the protocols of the first meetings and from the first newsletters – published since 1978 - were read. This way our activities in those days were recalled. Some of our members added personal reminiscences and experiences and underscored how important it was to found Beit Theresienstadt – which mirrors the characteristic values and the then so important friendship of ghetto Terezin. We also remembered our members who are not with us any more and who fulfilled important functions at the founding and in the operation of our house – Zeev Shek, one of the initiators, who contributed much to the crystallization of our aims and who also mobilized the first donations; Pinda Shefa, who started our archives and Yehuda (Polda) Huppert, whose greatest merit was the creation of our Education Center. It was also mentioned that Beit Theresienstadt was probably the first memorial site, which computerized its card index of ghetto prisoners – and this project was also based entirely on voluntary work. Those of our members who donated important and rare material to our archives were not forgotten, too. Members of the first and second generation remembered experiences at trips organized by our association in Israel and abroad and all remarked especially on the friendly atmosphere. The chairman of our association Dr. Eli Lawental spoke of the second generation, which takes part in the activities of Beit Theresienstadt. There was also music: Yoni Niv, a young musician who participated in two seminars “History, Music and Remembrance” at Beit Terezin sang and played two works composed by him, at the beginning and at the end of the evening. Each of the volunteers received a souvenir – Pavel Kohn’s book Armonot Hatikva (Castles of Hope), published a short time ago by Beit Theresienstadt. SPECIAL PROJECTS: RENOVATION AND EXTENSION The manager of Beit Theresienstadt Nira Faran reports that the renovation and extension of a classroom and library is due to begin shortly – after ending a number of bureaucratic procedures, which delayed the project until now. In the next few weeks the architect will be chosen among the candidates (only women applied!) and after that work must proceed fast since the Claims Conference demands that the project be finished until the end of 2005. With this in mind we will have to make an effort to raise funds since we have to match the subvention with an equal sum. NEW EXHIBITION These days we work at replacing the exhibition “Kamarad” in our exhibition room. The new display will be dedicated to the artistic and educational work of the Groag family in ghetto Theresienstadt. Sima Shahar will curate the exhibition, Dudi Gal will design it – he designed 4 the present exhibition, too. We plan to open the new exhibition in May, for the annual meeting. At the same time we are also developing a suitable teaching program to be used in our study days. For this project we also got an allocation from the Claims Conference – which we, of course, will have to match, too. ANITA TARSI RETURNED After a sabbatical abroad Anita Tarsi now returned to Beit Terezin and will manage it together with Nira Faran. “Actually, I was not really away” Anita says with a smile. “All the time abroad was also dedicated to meetings with members of our association there, e. g. with Ilsa and Franta Maier, Paul Weiner, Robin and Renata Herz, Zuzanna Justman, Nadia Rosa, Pavel Kling and Susan Rubin. I was invited to participate at a meeting of the Nesarim group in August in Prague and Terezin – naturally the wives and children were there, too. All this was very meaningful for me.” (See also item on page 10) Anita will work now on a few important projects, mainly on the new design of the permanent display in our historical museum and also at the reorganization of our archives, to bring all the records finally on-line. “The new design of the exhibition needs much thought and research because we want it – after the change – to represent all segments of the ghetto population and not only the Czech part. It is my dream, to create a place with a lot of information and food for thought, to give the visitors a feeling for the past and to make them understand the problems of life in the ghetto. For the new design, Anita explains, “We will need quite a sum of money – we get a part of it from the Claims Conference, a small part from the “Maror” organization of Jews from Holland and we want to approach various foundations; the remainder we will have to mobilize through donations from our members in Israel and abroad. These days groups of our members are starting to discuss the subject and the planning will begin. Members, who want to participate in this project, are requested to contact me by telephone or e-mail”. In addition, Anita will be responsible for our publications. At this point in time we want to further the sale of Kobi Luria’s CD with the ghetto cabaret songs by Svenk and the album of Leo Haas’ paintings, which is due to come out soon. And of course there is also the bi-annual newsletter. 5 OUR EDUCATION CENTER KAMARAD 23 The project “Kamarad 23” runs now already for a second year, supported by the Jewish Agency. The aim is to create a continuation of the newspaper “Kamarad”, written in the ghetto. Through getting acquainted with the newspaper and its “editors” the students learn the subject, both in Beit Terezin and in their schools. During the previous school year high school students studying plastic art and graphics and also a group of Jewish and Arab youth participated in the program. The creations of this last group were displayed on the occasion of the last annual meeting at the “Vienna House”, Givat Hayim-Ihud.